Hub cap



M. K. SMITH HUB CAP Sept. 23, 1930.

Filed Jan. 2, 1930 IN VENT OR Patented Sept. 23, 193() PATENT i orrler.N

Monnrr.- K. sMrrI-i,` or LULING, TEXAS HUB CAP Application filed January2, 1930. Serial No. 418,071.

My invention relates to improvements in hub caps.

Asis well known, the modern wire automobile wheel, such as used uponVthe model A Ford automobile and others, embodies an inner hub shellwhich is rotatably mounted upon a spindle, and a wheel hub shell isbolted to the inner hub shell and is removable therefrom. The wheel hubshell, spokes and rim constitute a removable unit.

In accordance with the present invention,

I provide a hub cap which is adapted to be permanently attached to theouter end of the wheel hub shell. rllhe attachment is effected by meansto be described.

The invention serves as a hub cap, grease retainer and dust cap.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part oi this specilication, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like partsthroughoutthe same,

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a deviceembodying my invention, v 5 Figure 2 is a transversev section taken online2-2'of Figure 1, and,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the grease cup` In the drawings,whereinfor the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodimentoi my invention, the numeral 5 designates a spindle upon which the wheelis rotatably mounted.

The wheel embodies an inner hub shell 6,

having bearings 7 and 8 arranged between the hub shell and spindle. isretained in place upon the spindle by means of a nut 9, held againstaccidental rotation by any suitable means, and this nut engages V awasher 10, at its inner end. This washer snugly engages within theouter. end of the inner hub shell 6 and has its edges cut away on foursides, providing passages 10', to permit grease or other lubricant topass through the same, and enter the inner hub shell, in Vsuitableamounts. Y

The numeral lldesignates the Wheel hub shell, provided at its outer endwith an outwardly bulging hollow liange 12, which is U-shaped in `crosssection, and at its inner rlhe hub shell y end with a radial attachingflange 13, to be rigidly and detachably secured to the radial flange 14of the inner hub shell 6, bymeans Vof bolts 15, or the like. The spokes16 of the wheel are secured to the 55 outer flange 12 and the innerflange 413, by any suitable means and these spokes carry the usual rim,not shownf VThe wheel hub` shell 11, spokes 16, and the rim constitutethe removable unit of the wheel; y Y

The numeral 17 designates a hub cap shell whichis preferably tapered anddecreases in diameter outwardly. This hub'cap shellis ot a. sullicientsize to carry a suitable amount y ot grease or otherlubricant. vThisjhub cap shell is provided at its inner end with an outwardly bentannular fla-nge 18,1upon the inner endof'which are formed originallystraight attaching teeth or segments 19, which entend parallel with thelongitudinal airis oi the grease cup shell. Disposed within the innerportion of the grease cup shell 17 is an annular band or ring 20, theouter end of which is rigidly attached to the grease cup shell 17 bysolder 21 or the like, and forms a gas- 75 Vtight jointV therewith. Thering 20 extends beyond the teeth 1 9 and a packing ring 22 is arrangedwithin the inner end of the annular band 20 and is attached thereto bywlre -stitching 23, extending through apertures inV the annular band 20.The packing ring 22 may be secured to the annular band 2O by othersuitable means. This packing ring may be formed oleather, telt, or anyother suit-V ablel material. At its outer end, the hub cap shell 17 isprovided with an inwardly projecting tubular coupling 24, havingascrewthreaded opening 25, to receive the screwthreaded stem oi' a greaseCup or cup oontaining any suitable lubricant, ingQ- may be closed by anysuitable means, such as unplug. .i y

Y In assembling the grease cup shell 17 upon` the wheel hub shell 11,the wheel hubv shell is separated from the inner hub shell 6, and 95 theannular set of teeth 19 are inserted within the outer end of the flange;12. By means of a. suitable tool, which` may be 'passed throughthe innerend of the wheel hub shelll 11, the teeth 19 are bentoutwardly, tointer- 10u The open]- lock with the hollow tlange 12, as clearly shownin Figure 1, and the hub cap shell 17 is then permanently secured to theWheel hub shell 11. W7 hen the wheel hub 11 is returned in place uponthe inner hub shell 6, the packing ring 22 is brought into lirmengagemnet with the outer end ofthe inner hub shell 6 and a dust-tightjoint provided, preventing dust from entering the inner hub shell 6. Thelubricant is now fed into the hub cap shell 17 through the opening 25 bymeans ot the grease cup carried thereby. The shell 17 not only serves asa grease cup, but as a means to exclude dust from the interior.` oftheinner hub shell and also as means for holding a relatively large amountof lubricant which is supplied to the bearings by passing about thewasher 10.

It is to be understood that the 'form of my invention, herewith shownand described, is to be taken as aypreterred example of th-e same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement ot parts, may beref sorted to Without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims. Y

Having thus described v my`V invention, I claim Y 1. The combinationwiththe inner hub shell of a Wheel, ot a wheel hub shell removably mountedupon the inner hub shell and provided at its outer end with a flange, agrease cup shell having one end in sertedy within said flange andprovided with teeth adapted to be bent into interlocking engagement withthe iange so that the grease cup shell is permanently secured to thewheel hub shell, an annular band secured within the grease cup shell,and a packing ring carried by the band and arranged to engage with theouter end of the inner hub shell Jr`or forming a dust-proof joint withthe same.

2. The combination with a spindle, of an inner hub shell mounted uponthe same, a nut f carried by the spindle, a Washer arranged behind thenut and arranged at the outer end of the inner hub shell and having asmaller' diameter than the same to provide aclear-r ance for the passageof a lubricant,'a wheel hub shell removably mounted upon the inner hubshell and provided at its outer end with an outwardly bulging flangehaving an inturned lip, a grease cup shell having one end insertedwithin the flange and provided in such end with originally approximatelystraight teeth adapted to be bent outwardly into interlocking engagementwith the lip ot' the flange so that the grease cup shell is permanentlysecured to the wheel hub shell, an annular band arranged within thegrease cup shell and having a dust-proof joint with the same andprojecting beyond the innerv end of the same, a packing ring carried by`the inner end ofthe band and engaging the outer end of the inner hubshell to form a dustproof joint, said grease cup shell having an openingfor receiving the stem ot a grease cup or the like.

3. A grease cup shell provided at its inner end with teeth adapted to beinserted within the outer end of a wheel hub shell and to be bentlaterally for interlocking engagement therewith, an annular bandarranged Within the grease cup shell and having a dust-tight joint withthe same, and a packing ring carried by the'band and arranged to engagewith the end of an inner hub shell upon which the wheel hub shell isremovably mounted.

In testimony whereofv I alix my signature.

MODDIE K. SMITH.

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